Our Team

Tom Tuohy

Tom founded Dreams for Kids in 1989 at the request of his mother, Patricia Tuohy, a single parent of four children. Abandoned by his father at eight years old, Tom was deeply influenced by mentors who introduced him to a level of suffering in other children far worse than his own difficult challenges and presented him with a vastly different worldview.

Tom is an attorney, author and public speaker and is convinced social entrepreneurship will solve our local and global social issues. Learn more about Tom

Heather Mix

Carson Williams

Executive Board

Tom Tuohy

Tom Tuohy

Chairman

Tom Tuohy is an attorney, author, teacher, founder and CEO of CBA, LLC, and founder of Dreams for Kids, Inc.

Tom founded the social enterprise Comprehensive Benefits Plan of America, LLC (CBA) in 2015, to elevate the middle class by providing essential professional services and everyday products at affordable rates. CBA, a Personal Concierge for Financial Independence, is available as a custom branded financial wellness benefits plan for companies, unions, and faith-based groups, and directly to individuals.

In 2015, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel selected Tom as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent. He has also been awarded the Prestigious Highest Rating (AV) for Legal Skill and Competence for 20 consecutive years and is sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 1990. He served as Special Assistant Attorney General of Illinois and founded Tuohy Law Offices in 1982.

The son of a single parent, Tom founded the nonprofit Dreams for Kids, Inc in 1989. Working with at-risk youth and those with disabilities inspired him to create, YES, an award-winning program that replaces charity with opportunity for youth, teaching essential entrepreneurship and social enterprise building skills.

Tom is an Adjunct Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business of DePaul University. He is a graduate of DePaul University, DePaul Law School and Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern, as an Executive Scholar. In 2011, Tom attended Stanford Graduate School of Business to share best practices on social innovation with 46 corporate and nonprofit leaders from 14 countries.

His work is featured on MSN, ABC, NBC, WGN, and in major publications. He has spoken at Northwestern, DePaul, Stanford, TEDX, and companies such as Advocate Health Care, Blue Cross, Athletico, Federal Reserve, National Press Club, KIN Global, and World Chicago.

Tom has shared his work and message with tens of thousands of people throughout his diverse career. He speaks from his heart on personal transformation and community change, presenting extensively to business organizations, labor unions, student groups and educators on social entrepreneurship, volunteerism and social activism, estate and legacy planning and the evolution of nonprofit into pure social enterprise.

Tom’s other passions include writing, yoga, mentoring, coaching and traveling to the families’ 400-year-old farm in CastleConnell, Ireland.

Anar Isman

Anar Isman

Vice Chair of Finance

Anar is a Director in the Real Estate Public Securities Group at Brookfield Asset Management and currently oversees the group’s housing-related investments. He has a 13-year track record of investing in global real estate companies, deploying over $500 million of investments per year. Over the years he has developed an in-depth understanding of companies’ finances, accounting, and operations, and often advises management teams on strategies to increase shareholder value and achieve strategic objectives.

Anar previously worked as an investment analyst at Citadel Investment Group, and GEM Realty Capital Anar came to the US from the former Soviet Union when he was 16 years old on a scholarship from the State Department and spent a year living with a host family. He attributes a lot of his success to the guidance and direction he received that year and appreciates how influential mentorship and youth programs can be to a young mind.

So philanthropy became an essential part of Anar’s life. Anar has volunteered and sat on the board of the Working in the Schools (WITS) program– a charity that sets students on a trajectory of success by building literacy skills and developing positive self-identity. Anar and his wife have organized several fundraising events and campaigns, raising over $20,000 for various causes. Anar is also active in his community by being one of the three members running the housing association board.

Anar received a BBA with High Distinction from the University of Michigan Ross Business School, and he is a CFA Charterholder. He is vegetarian and avid health and wellness, enthusiast. In his spare time, he likes to play tennis and, together with his wife, explore different coffee shops in search of the perfect cappuccino. He lives with his wife, son, and dog, Bernie, in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago.

Jeffery Johnson

Jeffery Johnson

Vice Chair of Programming

Jeff is a Financial Consultant with LPL Financial. Having worked in the corporate finance and management consulting fields for more than ten years, Jeff has gained the skills necessary to provide competent, reliable advice to help investors work towards their financial goals.

He has been actively participating in Dreams for Kids through the Associate Board since 2011 & Executive Board since 2015.

Currently, Jeff resides in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago with and his wife, Katie and three kids where they enjoy frequenting local businesses and taking part in community activities.

Jeff is active as an alumnus of Fairfield University, Loyola University, and Loyola Academy. Jeff received his BA in International Studies from Fairfield University and an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago Quinlan Graduate School of Business in finance and international business.

Dorothy Hillard

Dorothy Hillard

Director

Dorothy Hillard retired as a Principal with the Chicago Public School System after her distinguished 28-year career. She is the wife of former Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard and the proud mother of Chicago Police Officers Terri Lee Hillard and Dana Hillard. Dorothy’s brother, Jesse Brown, served in the administration of President Bill Clinton as Secretary of Defense, with the Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital in Chicago named after him. Dorothy remains very active with the Jesse Brown VA.

Dorothy has contributed her vast education experience on the Dreams for Kids Executive Board for 14 years.

Tatiana Scripnic

Tatiana Scripnic

Vice Chair of Fundraising

Tatiana Scripnic is on the Executive Board of Dreams for Kids since January 2019 and has been on the Associate Board of Directors since early 2018.

Currently, Tatiana is a Senior Analyst in IP Management and Strategy for Tethr, an Austin based speech analytics and Artificial Intelligence provider. Tatiana comes from a professional consulting background and has experience working in internal audit, strategic management consulting, corporate governance and Board management consulting, and strategic sourcing consulting. Tatiana has further worked for companies such as Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, The Barthwell Group, Russell Reynolds Associates, Source One Management Services, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Hudson Institute.

In addition to her professional consulting experience, Tatiana is an avid volunteer and is involved with the local community through various nonprofits including The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s rights and the Chicagoland Model UN Club (CMC). Tatiana has further been on CMC’s Board of Directors from 2016 to 2017 and has held the role of the Chair of the Board.

Tatiana has obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago and has a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Political Science, French, and International Relations.

Kevin McGary

Kevin McGary

Vice Chair of Partnerships

Kevin McGary is a Banking Specialist for MB Financial Bank. He has more than eight years of experience in the banking and financial services industry, including business development planning, business, and consumer banking, and financial advisory, planning, and investment strategies. His educational background is in Business Management with a focus on Business Law from The Ohio State University and Lewis University.

In his current role, Kevin is responsible for the business development and relationship management in his area. While working closely with an internal team of experts, Kevin can provide analysis and financial expertise to business owners and consumer clients alike. By providing well-rounded solutions through proper planning, there’s not a stone left unturned in guiding his clients to a successful financial position.

For over 25 years Kevin has dedicated his free time to serving his community through volunteering, corporate fundraising, financial literacy seminars, community organization, and activism. With a strong passion for helping enrich the lives of people around him, he is often seen participating in events to help change the lives of the disadvantaged or misfortunate in the Chicagoland communities. Creating a culture where opportunities are plentiful for those who desire to work hard is one of his many goals. Kevin has been participating with Dreams for Kids since 2017 and an active associate board member since the start of 2018.

Associate Board

Young professionals that meet, network and raise awareness and funds for Dreams for Kids and have fun while doing it. Associate Board Brochure